Novak Djokovic ‘still has that aura of invincibility’

Brad Stine, the coach of Tommy Paul, believes that Novak Djokovic is the last man standing when it comes to the big three aura.

Stine feels that while Nadal still has a target on his back, he is vulnerable to defeat at this stage of his career.

However, when it comes to Djokovic that imposing aura remains intact and there is a sense that on his day he is simply unbeatable.

Nadal and Djokovic are currently neck and neck in the all-time Grand Slam race but few would bet against the current world No 1 to end up winning the contest when all is said and done.

“Rafa, like we said, is a little bit in limbo on where he’s gonna go. But, he’s certainly been much more vulnerable over the last six or eight months. I think he lost to five Americans in a row, something like that, maybe was four, I’m not sure. So, there’s a vulnerability there with him that wasn’t there before,” Stine said on the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast.

Stine feels that there is a sense of parity among the other top ten players that makes them all vulnerable to each other and other emerging players.

However, when it comes to Djokovic players know they won’t ever be served an easy win.

“Novak still has that aura of invincibility,” Stine said.

“I think everybody else that’s in the draws, as good as Medvedev is, as good as Alcaraz is, as good as Sinner is, anybody else that you can name in the top 10, I think that everybody, not just the American guys, I feel that every single one of those guys in vulnerable,” he added.

Djokovic is well-placed to have an excellent season on clay if he can stay injury-free.

He has been forced to enjoy some time off and has also been allowed to begin his clay court work sooner because of his Sunshine Double visa let down.

While Nadal has also been away from the tour he is currently in a bit of a fitness race ahead of next month’s French Open.

Nadal hurt his hip during his defeat to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open and has not featured on the ATP Tour since.

Images of Nadal training at his Academy sparked hope that he would be fit to start his clay swing in Monte Carlo but it now seems more likely he will return for the events in Barcelona and Madrid.

READ MORE: Rafael Nadal backed to ‘find another gear’ on clay, but draw for Roland Garros ‘wide open’